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Education technology to “discuss” controversial topics in large-
enrollment courses within the natural resources.
John B. Dunning, Jr.
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources
Purdue University
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THE CHALLENGE
• FNR 103 (INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION) IS OFTEN TAKEN BY STUDENTS TO MEET A GENERAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT.
• RESULT: 450+ STUDENTS PER SEMESTER, AND MOST STUDENTS HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE SUBJECT.
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• STUDENTS MAY FEEL ANONYMOUS & DISCONNECTED FROM THE PROFESSOR.
• LEADS TO POOR ATTENDENCE, LITTLE REASON FOR STUDENT TO FEEL ENGAGED.
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• NATURAL RESOURCE
CLASSES DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS & OFFER INSIGHTS INTO CURRENT NEWS.
• HOW DO YOU GET STUDENTS TO DISCUSS and UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES?
FIRES AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, AUGUST 2007
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CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE SYSTEM (CPS)
• SINCE 2004, I HAVE BEEN USING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CALLED CPS, BY eINSTRUCTION.
• CPS MAKES LARGE LECTURE CLASSES MORE INTERACTIVE & ALLOWS ME TO “DISCUSS” TOPICS WITH THE STUDENTS
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COMPONENTS OF CPS
• HARDWARE: RECEIVER THAT ATTACHES TO CLASSROOM COMPUTER. USES RADIO FREQUENCIES.
• SOFTWARE: eINSTRUCTION PROGRAM THAT TAKES SIGNALS RECEIVED FROM STUDENTS, TOTALS RESPONSES & SENDS REPORT TO INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE COMPUTER.
• STUDENTS: PURCHASE A “RESPONSE PAD,” (“CLICKER”) SIMILAR TO A TELEVISION REMOTE.
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RESPONSE PADS
• STUDENTS GO ONLINE TO REGISTER USE OF THEIR CLICKER IN FNR 103. SAME REMOTE CAN BE USED IN OTHER CLASSES, OTHER SEMESTERS.
• PURDUE PURCHASED BLANKET LICENSE, SO NO COURSE FEE.
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USE IN CLASS
• WHEN CPS SYSTEM IS TURNED ON, I CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
• STUDENTS USE REMOTES TO ANSWER.
• ANSWERS ARE INSTANTLY TABULATED AND RESULTS SHOWN TO STUDENT FOR IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK.
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QUESTION TYPES
• REVIEW OF PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT CONCEPTS, ESP. BEFORE TESTS.
• AFTER TEST, GO OVER QUESTIONS THAT STUDENTS FOUND DIFFICULT.
• USEFUL, BUT BORING!
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QUESTION TYPES
• MORE INNOVATIVE:
• QUESTIONS THAT CHALLENGE STUDENT’S “COMMON SENSE”
• CREATE “TEACHABLE MOMENTS” BY USING CPS TO MAKE STUDENTS COME TO SURPRISING REALIZATIONS.
• ASK STUDENTS TO OFFER OPINIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.
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RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS
• FIRES STARTED BY PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALWAYS PUT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
YES NO
• 2005 61% 34%
• 2006 45% 48%
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RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS
• A FARM CHEMICAL COULD GREATLY INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION, BUT TINY AMOUNTS CAUSE GENETIC DAMAGE IN FROGS.
2006 2005• We should use the chemical to
reduce world hunger 10% 12%• We should not use it, to keep our
drinking water safe 53% 51%• I don’t care about frogs, but if it harms
humans we shouldn’t use it 26% 29%
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RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS
• WHAT PRICES SHOULD THE FS CHARGE FOR TIMBER HARVEST?
• MAKE A PROFIT 21%• BELOW-COST IS OK 19%• KEEP THE TIMBER
COMPANIES PROFITABLE 18%• NONE – USE LAND FOR
RECREATION 34%
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‘CLEAR SKIES INITIATIVE’
• DO YOU SUPPORT GOALS OF 80% REDUCTION BY 2018?
2005 2006
YES 85% 79%
NO 9% 11%• CURRENT GOALS REQUIRE 90% REDUCTION
BY 2010, DO YOU STILL SUPPORT?
YES 46% 36%
NO 52% 58%
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BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY
• MOST STUDENTS SEEM TO ENJOY THE BREAKS IN THE LECTURE.
• SHOULD INCREASE UNDERSTANDING.
• INCREASES ATTENDANCE.